For the award of MSW by Research a candidate is required to demonstrate his or her ability to undertake research by the submission of a thesis embodying the results of an original investigation.

Applicants are normally required to have a BSW from UNSW or equivalent and have had at least two years professional experience. Applications are also considered from those with an appropriate degree at an acceptable level and with two years' work experience in the human services.

The Master of Social Work by Research degree program is designed for students wishing to engage in serious research and students who complete the program will be competent to carry out research in their chosen area.

Students may be enrolled full-time or part-time; internal or external. Full-time students have between 1 to 2 years, and part-time students have between 1 to 3 years to complete the degree. Each student has a supervisor, and progress is reviewed annually.

The program requires research by the submission of a thesis.

1.The degree of Master of Social Work by research may be awarded by the Council on the recommendation of the Research Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) to a candidate who has demonstrated ability to undertake research by the submission of a thesis embodying the results of an original investigation.

2. (1) A candidate for the degree shall:
(a) have been awarded the degree of Bachelor of Social Work from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution at a level acceptable to the Committee; and
(b) have had at least two years' professional experience of a kind acceptable to the Committee;
or
(a) have been awarded an appropriate degree at a level acceptable to the Committee;
(b) have had at least two years' work experience in the human services of a kind acceptable to the Committee.
(2) In exceptional cases an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be permitted to enrol for the degree.
(3) If the Committee is not satisfied with the qualifications submitted by an applicant the Committee may require the applicant to undergo such assessment or carry out such work as the Committee may prescribe, before permitting enrolment.

3. (1) An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Registrar at least two calendar months before the commencement of the session in which enrolment is to begin.
(2) In every case, before permitting a candidate to enrol, the Head of the School of Social Work shall be satisfied that adequate supervision and facilities are available.
(3) An approved candidate shall be enrolled in one of the following categories:
(a) full-time attendance at the University;
(b) part-time attendance at the University;
(c) external - not in regular attendance at the University and using research facilities external to the University.
(4) A candidate shall be required to undertake an original investigation on an approved topic and undertake such formal subjects and pass such assessment as prescribed. The candidate is also required to undergo such assessment and perform such other work as is prescribed by the Committee.
(5) The work shall be carried out under the direction of a supervisor appointed from the full-time academic members of the University staff.
(6) The progress of a candidate shall be reviewed annually by the Committee following a report by the candidate, the supervisor and the head of the school and as a result of such review the Committee may cancel enrolment or take such other action as it considers appropriate.
(7) No candidate shall be awarded the degree until the lapse of a minimum of three academic sessions from the date of enrolment in the case of a full-time candidate or six sessions in the case of a part-time or external candidate.
(8) A full-time candidate for the degree shall present for examination not later than four academic sessions from the date of enrolment. A part-time or external candidate for the degree shall present for examination not later than eight academic sessions from the date of enrolment. In special cases an extension of these times may be granted by the Committee.

4. (1) On completing the program of study a candidate shall submit a thesis embodying the results of the investigation.
(2) The candidate shall give in writing to the Registrar two months notice of intention to submit the thesis.
(3) The thesis shall present an account of the candidate's own research. In special cases work done conjointly with other persons may be accepted, provided the Committee is satisfied about the extent of the candidate's part in the joint research.
(4) The candidate may also submit any work previously published whether or not such work is related to the thesis.
(5) Three copies of the thesis shall be presented in a form which complies with the requirements of the University for the preparation and submission of theses for higher degrees.
(6) It shall be understood that the University retains the three copies of the thesis submitted for examination and is free to allow the thesis to be consulted or borrowed. Subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1968, the University may issue the thesis in whole or in part, in photostat or microfilm or other copying medium.

5. (1) There shall be not fewer than two examiners of the thesis, appointed by the Committee, at least one of whom shall be external to the University unless the Committee is satisfied that this is not practicable.
(2) At the conclusion of the examination each examiner shall submit to the Committee a concise report on the thesis and shall recommend to the Committee that:
(a) the candidate be awarded the degree without further examination; or
(b) the candidate be awarded the degree without further examination subject to minor corrections as listed being made to the satisfaction of the head of the school; or
(c) the candidate be awarded the degree subject to a further examination on questions posed in the report, performance in this further examination being to the satisfaction of the Committee; or
(d) the candidate be not awarded the degree but be permitted to resubmit the thesis in a revised form after a further period of study and/or research; or
(e) the candidate be not awarded the degree and be not permitted to resubmit the thesis.
(3) If the performance at the further examination recommended under (2)(c) above is not to the satisfaction of the Committee, the Committee may permit the candidate to re-present the same thesis and submit to further examination as determined by the Committee within a period specified by it but not exceeding eighteen months.
(4) The Committee shall, after consideration of the examiners' reports, the results in the prescribed course of study, and the results of any further examination, recommend whether or not the candidate may be awarded the degree. If it is decided that the candidate be not awarded the degree the Committee shall determine whether or not the candidate may resubmit the thesis after a further period of study and/or research.

6. A candidate shall pay such fees as may be determined from time to time by the Council.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following web-page:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html